One of Phil Walsh's strongest legacies is how the AFL coach was determined for his players to bring the best out of themselves.
That influence has also helped former West Coast star Beau Waters prepare for his next sporting challenge.
Waters will make his Ironman-distance triathlon debut this Sunday when he competes at the Ironman WA race at Busselton, south of Perth.
The tough Eagles defender showed his triathlon potential last month when he finished 40th overall with a speedy four hours 18 minutes at the 70.3, or half-Ironman, event in Mandurah.
Walsh, who died tragically earlier this year, was an assistant at Port Adelaide and West Coast before becoming Adelaide's senior coach.
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He also became a triathlon link between Waters and former Port star Michael Wilson, who has excelled as an age-group triathlete since retiring from the AFL.
Two months ago, Wilson finished the famed Hawaiian Ironman world championships in an outstanding time of 9 hours and 57 minutes.
Waters said Wilson's triathlon achievements have inspired him.
"I watched him at `Busso' both years he competed and vicariously heard about his training routine through a dear friend of ours, Phil Walsh," Waters said.
Waters knows he has a long way to go before he emulates Wilson as the next retired AFL star to compete at Hawaii.
It is notoriously difficult to qualify for Hawaii.
"In terms of me going to Kona, let's not count the chickens before they hatch," Waters said.
"Talking about Kona before I have actually even completed a full-distance Ironman is like doing a pre-season with the Wembley fourths and wanting to play AFL.
"Not that I want to discourage that dream, but there are a few steps in between."
Before even thinking about Kona, Waters has two more immediate goals, firstly completing the enormous challenge of an Ironman triathlon - a 3.8km ocean swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km marathon run.
Second, he wants to beat his wife to the finish.
Hannah Waters has completed the last two Ironman WA races.
"We have always said we would love to complete one together," he said.
"An extension of that is the rewarding nature of training together, watching each other improve, and working towards a common goal.
"That common goal is to beat each other."
In the professional races, Denis Chevrot of France will defend his title against a strong local field featuring Luke McKenzie, who was runner-up at Kona two years ago.
Dutch star Yvonne Van Vlerken is the women's favourite.
